Carnival Corp Leans on Tech to Boost Vessel Efficiency, Cut Emissions

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, is advancing greater fuel efficiency for propulsion through hull designs and new hardware and technology, along with underwater drone inspection and cleaning trials.This work is done through complementary strategies focused on maximizing hydrodynamic performance and enhancing ongoing hull maintenance, which reduces a ship’s underwater drag. Here's a synopsis of the CCL strategy:Hull Designs: When selecting the optimal hull design…
Cruise Shipping’s Historic Rebound

Battered by Covid, the cruise industry was down but not out. Today it is setting records in passenger count + the size and cost of a new fleet.Post-Pandemic, the fortunes of the big cruise companies have brightened dramatically. A late December, 2024 earnings release from Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE: CCL), encompassing brands including Carnival Cruise, Holland America, Cunard, Princess Cruises and others, says it all: “This has been an incredibly strong finish to a record year,” said CCL’s CEO Josh Weinstein, in its statement.
Tech File: Scantrol’s mTrack AHC Controller

Scantrol’s mTrack AHC Controller, combined with Bosch Rexroth Secondary Controls, is designed to ensure smooth and safe operation for TravOcean’s new 15-ton cable laying winch. This winch is used to lay wind turbine power cables on the seabed. “We need Active Heave Compensation (AHC) to have smooth operation and not to damage the cable during landing. The function increases the weather window and reduces the weather standby, making the process more efficient, with less downtime in challenging conditions…
Navig8 Announces 80% Acquisition by ADNOC
Navig8 TopCo Holdings Inc. announced that it has been acquired by ADNOC Logistics and Services plc.Navig8 is an international shipping pool operator and commercial management company with a modern owned fleet of 32 tankers and a presence in 15 cities across five continents. The Navig8 Group also holds investments in technical management companies, a marine fuels provider operating in over a thousand ports worldwide, and other enterprises serving the marine sector.This deal represents a significant milestone for the Company, founded in 2007 as a private organisation by former traders Gary Brocklesby and Nicholas Busch. The acquisition is set to deliver value to both Navig8 and ADNOC L&S’ clients and shareholders…
ADNOC L&S Takes Delivery of First New-Build LNG Vessel

ADNOC Logistics and Services plc has taken delivery of Al Shelila, the first of six newbuild liquified natural gas (LNG) carriers from Jiangnan Shipyard in China. The vessel has been delivered two months ahead of schedule, with the remaining five expected to be delivered in 2025 and 2026. Immediately after delivery Al Shelila will go on hire with a top-tier, global energy trader.Al Shelila’s naming and delivery ceremony will be attended by His Excellency Muhannad Sulaiman Al Naqbi…
Managing Cyber Risk Pivotal for Safe Maritime Digitalization Push, DNV Finds

A new report published by DNV has revealed that the majority (61%) of maritime professionals believe the industry should accept increased cyber risk from digitalization if it enables innovation and new technologies.The sector’s appetite to take on emerging risks arising from digital transformation is notably higher than other critical infrastructure industries including energy, manufacturing and healthcare, according to DNV.The industry’s increasing appetite for cyber risk comes at a time when it must manage a growing volume of vulnerabilities.Namely…
Crafting Dependability: The Island Vessel Built for Any Challenge

The owners of a private island in the U.S. rely on vessel transport as a lifeline to the mainland. Their boat, used for carrying supplies and even supplying medevac support in emergency situations, must be able to run at any time, in all conditions.So when it came time for their existing vessel to be replaced, the island’s owners sought a new vessel that would be rugged and reliable enough to withstand the harshest weather, said Tim Weston, the island’s general manager (note: Tim Weston is a fictitious name used to protect the identity of the island’s owners…
Esgian Week 38 Report: Contracting has Slowed

Esgian has no rig contracts to announced but provides an update on rig moves and drilling operations in the US Gulf of Mexico, Canada, Morocco and Norway in its Week 38 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryDrilling Activity and DiscoveriesExxonMobil has abandoned the Persephone C-54 well on EL 1169 in the Orphan Basin offshore Newfoundland, Canada.Seadrill’s 12,000-ft drillship West Neptune has resumed drilling operations on LLOG’s Who Dat South exploration well in the US Gulf of Mexico…
Esgian Week 36 Report: New Contracts Awarded in India, Guyana and West Africa

Esgian provides an update on new contract awards for Greatship, Transocean, Noble and Stena Drilling in its Week 36 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsGreatship has secured a contract with Cairn for its 350-ft Greatdrill Chetna jackup drilling rig in India. The contract is firm for six months at a dayrate of approximately $90,000, starting in late November or early December 2024.Transocean has secured a binding letter of award from Reliance Industries for its 6th generation 12…
BP: Venture Global Can’t Justify Calcasieu Pass Delay

Oil and gas producer BP Plc told federal regulators on Wednesday that it has reviewed confidential commissioning documents and does not believe Venture Global LNG needs more time to begin commercial production.Venture Global LNG's Calcasieu Pass plant has been at the center of a long-running dispute involving energy companies including BP and Shell over access to LNG from the plant.Venture Global is expected to become the second largest U.S. exporter of the super chilled gas when it starts producing from its new 20 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) by the end of the year.
Carnival Orders Three Mega Cruise Ships from Fincantieri

Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise company, announced on Tuesday that it has ordered a trio of ultra large cruise ships from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for its Carnival Cruise Line brand.At nearly 230,000 gross registered tonnes, and with capacity for nearly 8,000 passengers in 3,000 guest staterooms, the new ships will be the largest in Carnival's global fleet.The three liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled ships will be delivered in the summers of 2029, 2031 and 2033…
Esgian Week 29 Report: New Drilling Plans in Guyana and Norway

Esgian provides an update on new drilling plans in Guyana and Norway in its Week 29 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsADES has secured a 10-year contract extension for 250-ft jackup Admarine 657 offshore Saudi Arabia, commencing immediately upon the expiration of its current contract term with Saudi Aramco in the third quarter of 2024.Market sources indicate that Arabian Drilling 250-ft jackup ArabDrill 80 has secured a one-year extension with Al Khafji.Diamond Offshore has secured a contract with Beacon Offshore Energy subsidiary BOE Exploration & Production LLC for 12…
Shell to Boost Production at Perdido's Oil Project

Shell on Tuesday said it has made a final investment decision (FID) to boost production at the Perdido oil project in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, starting in April 2025.The company, which operates the platform, said it will add three wells that are expected to produce up to 22,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) at peak rates.
Seaside LNG and Carnival Corporation Partner to Fuel LNG-Powered Cruise Ship in Galveston

Seaside LNG and Carnival Corporation have entered into a term bunkering agreement to fuel the Carnival Jubilee, the first LNG-propelled cruise ship to call Galveston, Texas, its homeport.Seaside’s barge, the Clean Jacksonville, will move from Jacksonville, Florida, to operate out of Galveston and serve the Texas Gulf Coast with its first LNG delivery to the Carnival Jubilee in December 2023. With the assistance of the Port of Galveston, Seaside aligned all stakeholders to ensure the proper infrastructure is in place to begin the operation this winter.Initially…
Esgian Week 23 Report: Semisub Action in Norway, Australia

Esgian provides an update on semisub activities in Norway and Australia in its Week 23 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsTransocean has announced contract fixtures for three harsh environment (HE) semisubmersibles. Together, the fixtures represent approximately $161 million in firm contract backlog.Shelf Drilling has secured a 15-month award for the 357-ft jackup Shelf Drilling Tenacious for drilling operations offshore West Africa.Murphy Oil Corporation has exercised an option to extend the contract for the 12…
Harland & Wolff Belfast Bags $74M Canadian FPSO Refurbishment Deal

Harland & Wolff has secured a contract with Canada-based Cenovus Energy for the mid-life upgrade of the SeaRose FPSO vessel. The base contract value is approximately £61 million (~currently around $74 million). The FPSO is expected to arrive at Harland & Wolff in Belfast in the first quarter of 2024 and will be in the building dock for a period of more than three months.The contract follows a letter of intent announced earlier this year, and a number of pre-arrival works have already started…
Carnival to Sunset P&O Cruises Australia

Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise company, announced that in March 2025, the company will sunset the P&O Cruises Australia brand.The New-York-listed cruise giant said the move is once of several intended to increase guest capacity for its flagship brand, Carnival Cruise Line, which will absorb the operations of shuttered Australian cruise brand. P&O Cruises Australia ships Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure will be rebranded and operated by Carnival Cruise Line…
Carnival Orders Excel-class Cruise Ship

Fresh on the heels of its first newbuild order in five years, the world's largest cruise company has placed an order for an additional vessel.U.S.-based Carnival Corporation on Tuesday announced it has signed an agreement with German shipbuilder Meyer Werft to build an Excel-class cruise ship for its Carnival Cruise Line brand for expected delivery in 2028.The ship will be the 11th Excel-class ship for the corporation's fleet across four of its brands, and the fifth to be sailed by Carnival Cruise Line.
BMT Appoints Ian Tyler as Chairman

Design, engineering and risk management consultancy BMT announced it has appointed Ian Tyler as chairman of BMT Group Ltd. Tyler joined the board on May 1 and will assume the role of Chairman in early June. Tyler has a wealth of experience with listed public companies, in both executive and nonexecutive director capacities. His business leadership experience spans multiple sectors including energy, infrastructure, technology, defense and engineering. He is the former CEO of Balfour Beatty plc and brings board experience across companies including Cairn Energy…
Sri Lankan Shipyard Delivers Cable Layer to European Owner

Colombo Dockyard PLC recently delivered the first-ever Cable Laying and Repair Vessel (CLRV) to the European market from Sri Lanka.The vessel was built for Orange Marine, a France-based specialist in submarine telecommunications, whose fleet represents a 15% of the global fleet in this sector."Colombo Dockyard delivered the first Cable Layer (CLV) to Japan in 2019. Now, with the delivery of "C/S Sophie Germain," this becomes the second vessel of its category delivered by the shipyard…
California Sues Oil Giants

The state of California has sued major oil companies including Exxon Mobil, Shell PLC, and Chevron, accusing them of playing down the risks posed by fossil fuels, according to a court filing on Friday.The lawsuit, which also targets BP and ConocoPhillips, alleges the energy giants' actions have caused tens of billions of dollars in damages and accuses them of deceiving the public, the filing in a superior court in San Francisco showed.The American Petroleum Institute, an industry trade group…
Euronav to Buy CMB.TECH for $1.15 Billion

Belgian tanker operator Euronav and its controlling shareholder CMB have entered into a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of 100% of the shares in cleantech maritime group CMB.TECH for $1.15 billion in cash.Euronav said the transaction is part of its renewed strategy of diversification, decarbonization and accelerated optimization of the its current crude oil tanker fleet, driven by CMB.TECH’s ‘future-proof’ fleet of 106 low carbon vessels, of which 46 are under construction.CMB.TECH builds…
Carnival Signs LTSA with MAN PrimeServ

MAN Energy Solutions, MAN Energy Solutions USA and Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company, have signed a service agreement (LTSA) for five of Carnival’s Vista Class cruise ships powered by MAN 48/60CR type engines. The scope of the agreement covers the management of all maintenance, including planning, parts, technical advisory service, training and remote monitoring support. MAN Energy Solutions will manage the agreement via MAN PrimeServ, its after-sales brand.Riccardo Cordara…